Recaps

After Pei Jingshu kissed him goodbye before returning to South Korea, Cheng Che considered using interviews to complete his Charisma Trial. Qin Lie then brought him an offer to appear on the cover of Esquire’s October issue, giving Cheng Che a chance to expand his profile beyond tennis.

• Pei Jingshu exchanged WeChat contacts with Cheng Che, kissed his cheek, and left with her best friend for the hotel.
• Cheng Che checked his system panel and saw that the Charisma Trial still needed 150,000 more people to feel favorably toward him.
• Cheng Che considered giving interviews and using the Phantom Pinky Ring to boost audience trust and favorability.
• Qin Lie told Cheng Che that Esquire had offered him the October cover, with Chen Man as photographer.
• Cheng Che agreed the Esquire cover was worth considering, and Qin Lie said the shoot could happen anytime.

Cheng Che completed an Esquire cover shoot with Chen Man and declared his intention to win the Magic City Masters. After exchanging messages with Pei Jingshu, he returned toward his hotel and reviewed his fourth-round opponent.

• Cheng Che accepted the magazine shoot Qin Lie arranged and attended the studio two days later.
• Cheng Che used Camera Language during three outfit shoots, impressing Chen Man with his feel for the camera.
• Chen Man selected a gray-sweater photo for the cover and promised a champion headline after Cheng Che said he would win the Magic City Masters.
• Qin Lie told Cheng Che that Chen Man expected the cover to raise his commercial value by at least thirty percent.
• Cheng Che told Pei Jingshu about the Esquire cover, and she asked him to sign a copy for her.
• Cheng Che reviewed his fourth-round opponent's technical characteristics during the drive back toward the hotel.

Cheng Che reached the Magic City Masters round of sixteen and told reporters he intended to win the championship. As he prepared to face fellow eighteen-year-old Tsitsipas, his rising public profile brought him closer to completing his system trial.

• Cheng Che defeated a Spanish player in straight sets, then came back from a set down to beat an Argentine player and reach the round of sixteen.
• Cheng Che answered questions at a press conference, dismissed the idea that his match against Tsitsipas was about age, and said he expected to win the championship.
• Cheng Che's interview spread across social media, drawing both support and mockery as the trending topic changed to his championship claim.
• Cheng Che checked his system panel and saw that the Charisma Trial had reached 420,000 of 500,000 favorable reactions.
• Cheng Che reviewed Tsitsipas's strengths and resolved to make his championship claim come true by continuing to win.

Tsitsipas and Cheng Che faced off in a quarterfinal-spot match as both players and commentators weighed their strengths. Tsitsipas took the first point, but Cheng Che’s sharp returns and court awareness put him ahead in the opening game.

• Tsitsipas studied footage of Cheng Che with his coach, who warned him about Cheng Che’s powerful serve and aggressive returns.
• Lin Yan and Zhou Zhou discussed the matchup as spectators filled Court Two and debated which eighteen-year-old had the advantage.
• Tsitsipas and Cheng Che entered the court, and [Star of the Court] activated as the crowd’s attention sharpened Cheng Che’s senses and reactions.
• Tsitsipas served first and won the opening point with a sharply angled forehand that Cheng Che could not reach.
• Cheng Che attacked Tsitsipas’s next serve, came forward, and won the point with a volley.
• Cheng Che returned Tsitsipas’s body serve with a sharply angled backhand, then countered his forehand down the line to take a 30–15 lead.

Cheng Che defeated Tsitsipas in straight sets to reach the Masters quarterfinals, using his powerful serve and a tactical adjustment to recover after being broken. He learned that his next opponent was Medvedev, the world No. 5 and US Open runner-up.

• Cheng Che broke Tsitsipas twice and took the first set 6–2, while Tsitsipas struggled to handle his serve and baseline game.
• After Tsitsipas broke his serve in the second set, Cheng Che activated Total Concentration, held serve, and broke back to regain control.
• Cheng Che broke Tsitsipas again and won the second set 6–2, defeating him and advancing to his first Masters quarterfinal.
• Tsitsipas told Cheng Che he would not lose next time, and Cheng Che accepted the challenge.
• Qin Lie gave Cheng Che information about Medvedev, his next opponent, and Cheng Che prepared for a difficult match.

Cheng Che reached the quarterfinals and calmly told reporters his goal was still to win the championship. He unlocked two system rewards, then encountered Su Miaoyin and was prompted to bind her as a target.

• Qin Lie advised Cheng Che to answer reporters carefully before the press conference.
• Cheng Che said his goal remained the championship and discussed his upcoming match against Medvedev.
• Cheng Che learned that his favorable-impression trial was complete and received the talents Faces of All Beings and Red Sleeves Add Fragrance.
• Su Miaoyin greeted Cheng Che outside the hotel, and the system identified her as a bindable target.
• Cheng Che nodded when the system asked whether he wanted to bind Su Miaoyin.

Cheng Che welcomed Su Miaoyin, who had taken leave to watch his match against Medvedev, and learned that her favorability toward him was unexpectedly high. Back in his room, he examined three new buffs and felt confident they would help him in the upcoming match.

• Su Miaoyin told Cheng Che she had taken leave to watch him play in the Masters tournament.
• Su Miaoyin said she had watched his interview and asked whether he was confident against Medvedev; Cheng Che said he was.
• Su Miaoyin promised to attend Cheng Che’s match and urged him not to lose as she left in the elevator.
• Cheng Che showered and wondered why Su Miaoyin’s favorability toward him was 80, despite thinking she liked Yan Ruanning.
• Cheng Che read the descriptions of Strange Fragrance, Same-Sex Strangulation, and Attractiveness Suppression, then anticipated facing Medvedev the next day.

Cheng Che crushed Medvedev to reach his first Masters semifinal, then accepted Su Miaoyin’s invitation to visit Disneyland on his rest day. The chapter ended with Cheng Che eagerly planning the outing and asking whether the park had fireworks.

• Cheng Che defeated Medvedev 6–2, 6–1, with his [Attractiveness Suppression] and [Champion] aura contributing to Medvedev’s poor performance.
• Lin Yan announced that Cheng Che had advanced to the semifinals, where he would face Khachanov.
• Su Miaoyin noticed Cheng Che’s faint fragrance as they rode with Qin Lie toward the hotel.
• Su Miaoyin invited Cheng Che to Disneyland during his rest day, and he eagerly researched the park’s rides.
• Cheng Che and Su Miaoyin agreed to leave for Disneyland at seven the next morning, and Cheng Che asked Qin Lie whether the park had fireworks.

Cheng Che and Su Miaoyin spent a day at Disneyland, where he enjoyed the rides, parade, and fireworks while she looked after him. They left the park together after Su Miaoyin lent him her scarf, and Cheng Che felt glad he had come.

• Cheng Che and Su Miaoyin entered Disneyland and rode TRON Lightcycle Power Run, where Cheng Che shouted excitedly through the drops.
• While they waited for the mine train, Su Miaoyin applied sunscreen to Cheng Che's hands, making him feel cared for.
• Cheng Che and Su Miaoyin watched the parade, and Cheng Che waved back at Mickey before asking to visit the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.
• Cheng Che and Su Miaoyin shared turkey legs and continued through the park's rides as Su Miaoyin wiped grease from his nose.
• Cheng Che persuaded Su Miaoyin to ride the Ferris wheel, where they watched fireworks over the castle and Su Miaoyin watched him enjoy the view.
• As they left Disneyland, Su Miaoyin lent Cheng Che her scarf to keep him warm, and he walked beside her feeling happy.

Khachanov prepared to face Cheng Che in the Magic City Masters semifinals after studying his dominant performance against Medvedev. Cheng Che overcame the loss of the opening point and earned two break points in Khachanov's first service game.

• Khachanov watched Cheng Che's match against Medvedev and reviewed statistics that showed Cheng Che's superior serving, returning, and movement.
• Khachanov and Cheng Che entered Arena Two for their semifinal before a larger crowd than at previous matches.
• Cheng Che found that Attractiveness Suppression did not trigger against Khachanov and locked in a feel value of 90.
• Khachanov won the opening point with a sharp crosscourt forehand.
• Cheng Che won the next three points with precise returns and court coverage, leaving Khachanov trailing fifteen-forty and questioning whether Cheng Che was human.

Cheng Che took the first set 6–3 against Khachanov, then fell behind after Khachanov broke his serve in the second set. Cheng Che activated Total Concentration and served wide, leaving Khachanov unable to reach the ball.

• Cheng Che broke Khachanov in the opening game and held serve to lead 2–0.
• Khachanov steadied his serve and held several games, but Cheng Che broke him again to take the first set 6–3.
• Khachanov moved forward to attack Cheng Che’s serve and broke him in the third game of the second set, taking a 2–1 lead.
• Cheng Che activated Total Concentration and served wide; Khachanov anticipated the direction but could not reach the ball after its outward kick.

Cheng Che defeated Khachanov to reach his first Masters final, where he would face Zverev. After the match, he reunited with his parents, and Su Miaoyin’s sudden arrival prompted Jiang Xue to mistake her connection to Cheng Che and Cheng Jianguo to wonder how many female confidantes his son had.

• Cheng Che broke Khachanov twice and won the match 6-3, 6-2, advancing to the Masters final against Zverev.
• Cheng Che checked his system objective, then left with Qin Lie to review footage of his final opponent.
• Cheng Che found Jiang Xue and Cheng Jianguo waiting outside the venue with homemade food, and Jiang Xue told him she was proud of him.
• Su Miaoyin arrived to congratulate Cheng Che, then became flustered when she met his parents and introduced herself as his senior and music-club classmate.
• Jiang Xue warmly took Su Miaoyin’s hand, while Cheng Jianguo quietly asked Qin Lie how many female confidantes Cheng Che had.

Cheng Che’s parents shared dinner with him, Qin Lie, and Su Miaoyin, whom Jiang Xue warmly questioned and welcomed. Cheng Jianguo and Jiang Xue planned to visit Disneyland the next day, and Su Miaoyin agreed to guide them.

• Jiang Xue asked Su Miaoyin about her name, age, family, and plans, and grew pleased as they talked.
• Cheng Jianguo told Cheng Che that he and Jiang Xue wanted to visit Disneyland, but Cheng Che offered to go with them.
• Jiang Xue learned Su Miaoyin had visited Disneyland the day before and asked her to guide them instead.
• Su Miaoyin agreed to take Jiang Xue and Cheng Jianguo to Disneyland, while Cheng Che stayed behind to rest for his final.
• Cheng Jianguo remarked to Qin Lie that Cheng Che was better at dealing with people than he had been when young.

Su Miaoyin took Cheng Jianguo and Jiang Xue to Disneyland while Cheng Che prepared for his tennis final. Yan Ruanning arrived at Cheng Che’s hotel, triggering a new system binding, and planned to watch his match as she privately resented Su Miaoyin’s closeness to his family.

• Su Miaoyin guided Cheng Jianguo and Jiang Xue around Disneyland, steering Cheng Jianguo toward Pirates of the Caribbean instead of the mine train.
• Cheng Che and Qin Lie reviewed Zverev’s playing style as Cheng Che received encouraging messages from Pei Jingshu.
• Yan Ruanning surprised Cheng Che by arriving at his hotel, and the system bound her as Cheng Che’s second subject, granting him three buffs.
• Qin Lie left Cheng Che and Yan Ruanning alone, and Yan Ruanning said she had come for a magazine shoot and would watch Cheng Che’s final.
• Yan Ruanning privately recalled learning that Su Miaoyin had eaten with Cheng Che and his parents, then told Cheng Che she would be in the stands for his final.

Cheng Che faced Germany’s Zverev in the Magic City Tennis Masters final, with his family and supporters watching from the packed stadium. He activated Total Concentration and served at 237 kilometers per hour as his touch rose to 100.

• Lin Yan and Zhou Zhou introduced Cheng Che and Zverev before the final, while Jiang Xue watched from the stands with Cheng Jianguo, Su Miaoyin, and Yan Ruanning.
• Cheng Che reviewed his system abilities and saw that his Dynamic Luck value for the day was 6.
• Cheng Che entered the court to loud cheers and shook hands with Zverev at the net.
• Cheng Che activated Total Concentration, and Star of the Court raised his fixed 95 touch to 100.
• Cheng Che opened the match with a 237-kilometer-per-hour serve down the T.

Cheng Che overwhelmed Zverev with powerful serves and precise attacks, taking the first set 6–1 after an improbable net-cord winner further frustrated his opponent. As the set ended, Jiang Xue, Su Miaoyin, and Yan Ruanning watched Cheng Che closely from the stands.

• Cheng Che opened the match with four unreturned serves and held his first service game to love.
• Cheng Che attacked Zverev’s serves, broke him, and built a 3–0 lead as Zverev struggled with his movement.
• Cheng Che’s return rolled around the net tape and dropped away from Zverev, who lunged but could not reach it.
• Cheng Che continued to dominate, and he and Zverev traded service holds before Cheng Che won the first set 6–1.
• Jiang Xue noticed Su Miaoyin and Yan Ruanning watching Cheng Che intently as he returned to his chair, breathing steadily.

Cheng Che adapted to Zverev’s aggressive return tactics and defeated him 6–1, 6–2 to win the Magic City Masters. After the crowd celebrated his victory, Qin Lie told him he had risen to forty-seventh in the live rankings and urged him to collect his trophy.

• Cheng Che adjusted his serves to exploit Zverev’s forward position and held serve after losing the first two points of the second set.
• Cheng Che broke Zverev’s serve and built a 2–0 lead, then both players held serve until Cheng Che led 5–2.
• Cheng Che won the final game on his second match point, defeating Zverev 6–1, 6–2 and claiming the Magic City Masters title.
• The crowd cheered Cheng Che as he shook hands with Zverev, who congratulated him and said they would meet again at the Grand Slams.
• Qin Lie told Cheng Che he had reached forty-seventh in the live rankings and invited him to collect his championship trophy.

As Cheng Che won the Magic City Masters, his victory set off a frenzy online, including a viral Esquire cover and Yan Ruanning’s congratulatory post. After the ceremony, he found Jiang Xue, Cheng Jianguo, Su Miaoyin, and Yan Ruanning waiting in a van, then revealed that Pei Jingshu was joining them for dinner.

• Yan Ruanning posted a photo of Cheng Che holding the trophy and congratulated him, sparking arguments between her career-focused fans and bystanders.
• Esquire unveiled a Cheng Che cover timed to his championship win, and the photo rapidly went viral.
• Cheng Che stood on the podium with his gold medal and trophy as the national anthem played and the flag rose.
• After the ceremony, Cheng Che and Qin Lie left through a side door and found Jiang Xue, Cheng Jianguo, Su Miaoyin, and Yan Ruanning waiting in a van.
• Cheng Che told the group that Pei Jingshu was coming too, leaving everyone staring at him in silence.

After winning his match, Cheng Che picked up Pei Jingshu while Jiang Xue, Cheng Jianguo, Su Miaoyin, and Yan Ruanning rode along in tense silence. Pei Jingshu congratulated him outside her hotel and asked who was in the van, leaving Cheng Che unsure how to explain.

• Jiang Xue asked whether Pei Jingshu was the South Korean girl rumored to be involved with Cheng Che, and he said they were just friends.
• Jiang Xue tried to ease the awkward silence by asking Su Miaoyin about Cheng Che's match, and Su Miaoyin praised his play and composure while Yan Ruanning agreed pointedly.
• Cheng Che messaged Pei Jingshu that he was almost there and warned her there were other people in the van.
• The van arrived at Pei Jingshu's hotel, where she congratulated Cheng Che and said her delayed flight had kept her from watching his match.
• Pei Jingshu asked Cheng Che who was in the van, and he could not think of how to answer.

After binding Pei Jingshu and gaining powerful stacked buffs, Cheng Che brought her to dinner with Su Miaoyin, Yan Ruanning, and his parents, where the women competed to look after Jiang Xue. Qin Lie told Cheng Che that offers for a variety show, a movie, and a TV drama had arrived, but Cheng Che said they would discuss them after he returned to Peking University.

• Cheng Che bound Pei Jingshu and received the stacked buffs Attractiveness Supreme and Enchantment, along with Humanity's Darling.
• Pei Jingshu greeted Cheng Che's parents and shared Korean snacks with the group during the drive to the restaurant.
• At dinner, Su Miaoyin and Yan Ruanning took turns serving Jiang Xue while Pei Jingshu sat quietly, unable to follow most of the Chinese conversation.
• Qin Lie told Cheng Che that a variety show wanted him as a regular and that he had leading-role offers for a movie and a TV drama.
• Cheng Che said he would discuss the offers after returning to Peking University.

Cheng Che registered for the Hang City Marathon while his Esquire cover sparked an online feud between his fans and rival celebrity fandoms. At dinner, Pei Jingshu, Su Miaoyin, and Yan Ruanning each showed interest in his race, leaving Jiang Xue overwhelmed by her son’s popularity.

• Cheng Che registered for the Hang City Marathon to fulfill the running requirement for the Stamina Trial Fourth Stage.
• Esquire’s cover photo and behind-the-scenes praise for Cheng Che went viral, prompting rival celebrity fans to call him the “Four-Thousand-Year Pretty Boy.”
• Cheng Che’s fans retaliated with mocking nicknames for the celebrities whose fans had attacked him, bringing an online fight close to breaking out.
• At dinner, Cheng Che told Pei Jingshu, Su Miaoyin, and Yan Ruanning that he had registered for the November marathon.
• Pei Jingshu offered to cheer Cheng Che on, while Su Miaoyin and Yan Ruanning both felt jealous; Jiang Xue watched the three women gather around her son and sighed.

Cheng Che saw online mockery over the “Four-Thousand-Year Beautiful Boy” nickname and realized his benefactor’s favor was shielding him from fabricated rumors. Pei Jingshu came to his hotel late at night, hugged him, and asked whether he had missed her.

• After dinner, Qin Lie drove Pei Jingshu to her hotel, where she said goodbye to Cheng Che in Korean.
• At the hotel, Su Miaoyin and Yan Ruanning got off on the same floor, while Cheng Che went to his room alone.
• Cheng Che saw that the “Four-Thousand-Year Beautiful Boy” hashtag was trending and noticed that accounts spreading fabricated rumors about him had been warned and muted.
• Cheng Che checked his system panel, saw that his attributes had improved, and decided he would turn the mocking nickname into a compliment.
• Pei Jingshu arrived at Cheng Che’s door late at night, embraced him, said she had missed him, and asked whether he had missed her.

Cheng Che spent time with Pei Jingshu in his hotel room, but she hid in his wardrobe when Su Miaoyin arrived, and Su Miaoyin hid there too when Yan Ruanning came to see him. Yan Ruanning entered to discuss entertainment offers while the two women stayed crowded together in the dark.

• Pei Jingshu told Cheng Che she had come because she missed him and had no one else to talk to, and he promised to take her to the airport before agreeing to visit South Korea after his marathon.
• Su Miaoyin knocked and brought barbecue for Cheng Che, so Pei Jingshu hid inside his wardrobe.
• Su Miaoyin noticed Cheng Che was distracted as they ate and began to say what she wanted to eat after they returned.
• Yan Ruanning knocked with a folder of show, film, and television invitations, and Su Miaoyin hid in the wardrobe beside Pei Jingshu.
• Yan Ruanning entered the room to discuss the offers while Pei Jingshu and Su Miaoyin stared at each other in the wardrobe.

Yan Ruanning helped Cheng Che assess acting and variety-show offers for his debut, recommending a travel show and a campus drama. When Jiang Xue and Cheng Jianguo arrived unexpectedly, Yan Ruanning hid in Cheng Che’s wardrobe, where she found Su Miaoyin and Pei Jingshu already hiding.

• Yan Ruanning dismissed two proposals and recommended Walking the Flower Road Together and Youth Here to Cheng Che.
• Yan Ruanning advised Cheng Che to coordinate filming around school and have his studio hire an assistant.
• After Jiang Xue knocked, Yan Ruanning hid in Cheng Che’s wardrobe before he could stop her.
• Jiang Xue brought Cheng Che fruit, noticed his barbecue, and left with Cheng Jianguo.
• Inside the wardrobe, Yan Ruanning, Su Miaoyin, and Pei Jingshu silently glared at one another and each cursed inwardly.

After Jiang Xue and Cheng Jianguo left, Cheng Che waited outside while Yan Ruanning, Su Miaoyin, and Pei Jingshu hid in his wardrobe. The women left him alone for the night, and Cheng Che finally went to sleep after Qin Lie came knocking and received no answer.

• Cheng Che stayed by the door to keep the women in the wardrobe thinking Jiang Xue and Cheng Jianguo were still outside.
• When Cheng Che told them they could come out, Su Miaoyin rushed to the bathroom while Yan Ruanning and Su Miaoyin gave him matching, suspicious looks.
• Pei Jingshu rushed toward Cheng Che, but Su Miaoyin and Yan Ruanning grabbed her and dragged her out of the room.
• Cheng Che locked the door, fastened the chain, and went to bed, planning to return to Peking University and see Pei Jingshu off the next day.
• Qin Lie knocked and called Cheng Che, but Cheng Che stayed under the covers until Qin Lie left.